Joanne Dow didn't qualify for the Olympics, but she did walk away gracefully on her own terms.

“No regrets, I'm very satisfied,” said Dow, who finished fifth in the women's 20,000-meter race walk during the United States Olympic Trials Sunday in Eugene, Ore. Dow's official time was 1:38:20.20, behind winner 26-year-old Maria Michta of Nesconset, N.Y., who crossed the finish line at 1:34:53.33.

“When I crossed the finish line, I instantly found Maria and gave her a big hug,” said Dow. “This is it for me, my last official walk and, to me at least, it was the passing of the baton to Maria and the other young women. I've told Maria and the others how proud I am of them. They're taking the sport seriously and the future of race-walking is a bright one.”

Dow, knowing full well this would be her last walk, said she got emotional when she entered Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.

“I walked into this magnificent complex and I suddenly got all choked up,” she said. “This sport has been great to me. I've been to five Olympic Trials and qualified for the U.S. team once (2008 in Beijing). So, yes, everything just kind of hit me all at once before the race. It took Hopps (coach Rob Hoppler) to settle me down and get me focused for the race.”

Dow said she got off to “good start. I really felt good until the 12k mark when my 48-year-old legs started to slow down. I tried to pick up the pace, but I just couldn't. So once that happened, I decided at that point to find my rhythm and finish the race.”

At the 4k mark of the race, Dow saw former Olympian Teresa Vaill of Torrington, Conn., now 50, step off the track. Dow and Vaill became friendly rivals over the years with Vaill qualifying for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

“When I saw her step off the track, I kept telling myself that I wanted and needed to finish my last race,” said Dow. “The training over the last year for this event was not going to be for nothing. I had a plan and a focus entering this event to start and finish this race.”

Dow's fifth-place finish was just under three minutes behind 24-year-old Erin Gray of Eugene, Ore., who finished in 1:35:40.05. Placing second was 22-year-old Miranda Melville of Rush, N.Y., in 1:34:56.92. Countries are eligible to send as many as three athletes per event, but because none of the U.S. walkers met the Olympic "A" standard of 1:33:3, Michta will be the only American woman in the race-walk at London.

“I never verbalized a place finish for myself any time before the race, but I'm satisfied with fifth,” said Dow. “Competing today proved to me that I'm ready to move on. I'm not 24 or 25 years old. It's bittersweet, but it was a great career and I have no regrets leaving something I loved doing for years. Now it's time to pursue other goals.”

Dow, who recently earned her master's degree in kinesiology from the University of New Hampshire while serving is an assistant track and field coach, is now seeking a full-time coaching job.

She leaves behind a racing career that included three outdoor USA Track and Field championships, five indoor national titles and a bronze medal at the 2003 Pan Am Games.

“I also found out during the race that I set five (American) master records at the 3k, 5k, 10k, 15k and 20k marks,” said Dow. “So I really feel like I have closure now. It makes it easier to step away knowing I'm blessed to have a great family, friends and support.”